Welcome to Craft Book Month, Emily! Can you tell me what you love about telling stories, and why it’s important?
I love making crafts that facilitate storytelling because it offers children (and adults) the chance to drift into imaginary worlds where anything is possible. I have always been a daydreamer – where twigs and dirt often became mountains and trees – and I am a firm believer in nurturing children’s natural inclination to spend time with their imaginations. Storytelling is so healthy and good for children – it helps them practice communicating, it expands their emotional awareness, and it is often a way for them to experiment with problem solving. And, um, it is also super fun!

This is a very unique book concept. How did you go about conveying your concept to a publisher and what did you learn?
I actually submitted a book proposal where storytelling crafts was only one of the chapters in the proposed book. The editor who I was working with suggested that I elaborate on just the storytelling chapter since it was so unique and vibrant. The process of uncovering the heart and soul of my book served as a reminder to be willing to experiment with shifting the focus of a project.

When it came time to write the book, what did your timeline look like, and how did you interact with the publisher?

The process was definitely lengthy with lots of different, distinct steps along the way. After signing on with Storey Publishing, I was given six months to write my manuscript. I checked in with my editor from time to time, but I mostly just curled up in my cozy chair and wrote. Once the manuscript was turned in, I shifted my focus to craft styling – and more craft styling and more craft styling. Then, there was the photo shoot, copy edits, proof edits, more proof edits, and then four months to wait before I saw my first printed and bound copy. The time frame from the time I wrote my proposal to the release date was approximately 3 years. I found the whole process rewarding and interesting.

And, now, I am excitedly preparing for my book tour! Hooray! In the coming months, I’ll be visiting book shops, craft spaces, and museums to share projects from the book. I’m really looking forward to connecting with children and adults as they create; it will be fun and beautiful, and I can’t wait.

How would you compare the process of blogging about crafts on your blog Red Bird Crafts and actually compiling a book?Honestly, writing blog posts and book chapters feels extremely satisfying and exciting for me! In the end, the two writing processes felt very similar because I approach my writing as an educator and an artist. I love to inspire people to be creative and to encourage them to have confidence in their art; both forms of writing offer me the chance to do just that.

Thanks for your insights into the book writing process! What’s next for you, Emily?
Thanks for asking! I have lots of exciting new projects and ideas coming together right now. I’ll still be blogging at Red Bird Crafts, but in a few weeks I’ll also have a new website at EmilyNeuburger.com. The new site will showcase more of what I offer as a teacher – library and school visits, curriculum guides, and my local classes. I’m very excited for launch day!

Giveaway!

Storey Publishing is giving one lucky Craft Buds reader a copy of Emily’s new book, Show Me a Story.To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment on this post telling us something you learned from our Q&A with Emily.One random winner will be chosen in a week. Entries limited to North America.

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72 comments for “Craft Book Author Emily Neuburger + Giveaway!”

I loved that she said writing a book and writing a blog are so similar! I never would have thought of breaking a book down into chapters compared to writing a blog! I’d LOVE to win this book—as a former teacher, a new mommy, and a crafter, this would be so awesome!

You have helped me make up my mind to have classes for kids sewing and designing next summer. I want to say low income children but all children deserve an exciting experience. Thank you and keep up the great work.

I love the idea behind this book. I leatned that Emily is a firm believer in nurturing children’s natural inclination to spend time with their imaginations. As a retired elementary teacher I SO agree with this.

hi! Congrats on such a cool book! I appreciated Emily’s reasons for sharing crafts and stories at the same time with children.
As a trained teacher, I learned, like Emily, that storytime is a great way to introduce topics in the classroom, give children a chance to explore new concepts, and then for them to internalize the concept, it’s important for them to interact with the new ideas in a concrete way–no matter what their ages. Now as a mother of preschoolers, I find it’s even more true than I thought–they absorb so much! I’m always looking for new ideas to interact with my little ones, to nurture their love of reading–this would be a great resource.

I cant conceive the idea of even writing the book, I am filled with to many opinions, but I understood what she expressed about “shifting the idea,” project.. I would get on a subject and make it 40 chapters.. LOL

What a wonderful book! I really enjoyed reading about Emily and her process. Since I have 4 grandchildren who enjoy both reading and crafting, I would love to add this to my library. The projects look great. Thanks for a chance to win.

I SO need this book! I have a licensed home daycare, and I also homeschool. We are all about hands on projects and making stories come to life. I was glad to learn that she will be doing library and school visits. I’ll have to recommend her to our local library! They would love this

I learned that storytelling is a great way to teach children how to learn about problem solving. I never thought about it that way and can’t wait to get this book! Even if I don’t win I’m going to purchase it because I think it is an amazing way I can share my love for crafting with my son.

I didn’t realise a book is such a long process. I’ve also never thought of adding details to stamped images, seems obvious now. School holidays are coming up and I hope to make a book with my boys using their imagination and images. I can only imagine how inspiring reading the actual, “Show me a story”, book would be.

Publishing a book never goes in the direction you think it will. Would love to have this book to help my son with his story telling. As, he gets lost when trying to tell me a story. Love all the ideas that she has worked so hard to include. What a fun way to teach kids.

I struggle with confidence in my own crafting so I’m a fan of anything that inspires people and encourages them (“I love that love to inspire people to be creative and to encourage them to have confidence in their art.”)

I love the idea of story telling as a way to practice problem solving. I had always thought of story telling as creative exploration but of course this is so simple and so right it gives another framework. We do a lot of group storytelling in our summer school classes and the kids love it.

I have always been intimidated by the whole book-writing process. Reading about Emily’s journey makes it seem possible and doable.I love the “cozy chair” chapter writing! Would love to win this book–would make a GREAT birthday present for me today!!
Thanks for sharing the book and Emily.

I’m forever looking for ways to make the whole learning experience for my kids fun. Furthermore I find it very important to develop my childrens’ imaginations as in today’s world imagination always seems to take a back-seat to television and computer games. Seeing just the front-page of this book has given me new inspiration for teaching my children the joy of story-telling.

It was good to read that children need to use their imaginations and pretend many of their stories – my grandchildren have electronic games but I would love to introduce some fun storytelling/imagination games to them too.

Having young children this book would be an awesome addition to our library. I look forward to Emily’s new website and to reap benefits from her experience as a teacher to use in my own home with the kids.

Im a nanny and preschool teacher, and I love doing crafts with my muchkins! Im so excited to have found a new blog to check out! I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win a copy of this book! Thanks for the giveaway!

LOVE the idea of this book and LOVE that the editor picked up on the unique idea of it enough for it to become it’s own book. My children all enjoy telling their own stories and I know we would have a great time trying out some new ways to do so. Thanks for the chance! (and for the great book!)

This book looks so great! I work in an art museum teaching classes for children and would love to use some of these ideas. I found the interview interesting to learn that blog-writing and writing a book felt very similar to her. I guess I always think of writing for a blog as a bit more casual, but I like the idea of having a friendly, inviting tone to a book as well.

I would have thought the craft ideas came first and the book later, but found the book writing process interesting! I’d love to win this book and engage my speech/language impaired students with their imaginations to work on their writing/language skills!

I learned about–and was inspired by–Emily’s process of uncovering the “heart and soul” of her book. I run summer camps and will be exploring how to encourage campers’ storytelling experiences with this new tool!